In contrast to the Eastern European BEENetwork countries, Germany has a differentiated housing market with a high proportion of rental dwellings. The ownership rate therefore is rather low, also in comparison to other (Western European) countries: 43 percent. The housing market is characterised by the quantitative significance of private landlords/lessors, which rent out nearly 14 million flats. Approximately 10 million flats are administered by “professional” management companies, incl. housing cooperatives, communal/public housing companies and commercial housing companies.